ORIGINAL: Stu Pididiot
If your not using an electric starter, borrow one. This kind of crap is what discourages new guys and they quit. Even the best and most expensive engines sometimes are difficult to start. Using a stupid "chicken stick" or your finger is going to get you nowhere. You could squirt a bit of fuel down the carb to kind of prime it.
I run some of the best engines on the market. If I had to rely on a "chicken stick" instead of an electric starter. I would be flying kites.
Using a starter in this kind of situation is a substitute for learning how to properly start an engine. A starter is absolutely NOT a required piece of equipment for a 40 size engine. For the most part, it's only required for people who either won't learn, or don't want to bother learning, how to prime and start an engine.